Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged oil companies to create employment for the people in their host communities so as to foster sustainable cooperation and conducive environment for their operation.

Speaking yesterday in Asaba when the management team of AGIP Oil Company Limited led by its General Manager Mr. Palio Carnivale paid him a courtesy visit, Governor Okowa said that oil companies could build peaceful coexistence as well as conducive working environment with host communities by creating employment opportunities for the youths.

“I have to reiterate that there is a need for oil companies to ensure that they engage the youths in the immediate communities with employment first before they look elsewhere because the more people you actually employ from the immediate communities the more they acknowledge you as friends and the more they relate with you and that will also help to protect whatever investment that will be had on our pipelines,” he said.

While commending AGIP Oil Company for its past engagement of people in communities in the state, Senator Okowa said that a lot more could be done to better the lives of Deltans in host communities, stressing: “You have in the past engaged the communities so I ask you to continue in that light because the more people you get empowered in the communities the better for the economy because if the company is seen to thrive and the community becomes impoverished that can actually cause disagreement between the host communities and the companies.”

The governor called on Deltans especially those in oil producing areas of the state to peacefully coexist with oil companies in order to achieve sustainable development and gave assurance of his administration's continuous support to the oil company, adding: “We will continue to encourage all investment in the oil sector and therefore we will continue to partner with you to ensure that you will be able to get the best for your company, for the nation and the state.”

Earlier the General Manager, AGIP Oil Company, Mr. Palio Carnivale, stated that they had come for the purpose of renewing the collaboration between the company and the state government as well as solicit the continuous support of the state government.

•Photo shows Gov Okowa.